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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
Climbing
The plain of Bourg d’Oisans is good for strengthening and warming up your legs before tackling the formidable ascent of this gigantic mountain between earth and sky.
The road is overhung by a group of high peaks standing out against the sky, surrounded with pure fresh air (Gaspard, ’doigt de Dieu’ (God’s finger), La Meije etc).
This side is the least difficult compared with the ascent of the Galibier, although it is good for a start. The higher you get, the more you will feel the height. You can already feel its effects at 1,500 m (the Col du Galibier is 2,646 m high).
From Bourg-d’Oisans follow the RN91 towards Les Deux Alpes - Briançon.
After La Rampe des Commères, the road to the Chambon barrage is quite easy. Cycle on towards Briançon - Col du Lautaret on the RN91. On the Col du Lautaret turn left and take the D902 up to the Col du Galibier (8 km).
The Col du Galibier
The first road which was suitable for motor vehicles was opened in 1879 and the tunnel in 1881. This tunnel was closed for some 30 years but has been open again since summer 2002, with alternate traffic. The pass has been famous for the stage of the Tour de France from Chamonix to Grenoble ever since 1911 when this stage was won by Emile Georget, together with Paul Duboc and Gustave Garrigou. They were the ones who got the upper hand on the Galibier and were the only ones who managed to make the ascent without getting off their bicycles. Since derailleur gears were not allowed, this truly required extraordinary stamina on a road which was in poor condition in those days. It should be noted that the ascent of this pass by cyclists was a real ’première’ in those days, as no cyclist had ever done it before!
Ever since, this ascent has been made by over thirty thousand cyclists every year, either on their own or in cycle racing competitions like the famous competition of ’La Marmotte’. Whether amateurs or champions, a heterogeneous crowd of cyclists in bright colours now tackles the ascent in all weather conditions, whether it’s windy, raining or snowing, and they all have good reason to carry on, even if the pass may very soon turn into a "Way of the Cross".
"Climbing the Galibier without putting the idea into your head, that’s the way you do it!" Gustave Garrigou (8 Tours de France from 1907 to 1914. Winner in 1911).
